0927. Nina Simone Wild Is The Wind

Not a "true" album, but a compilation of leftover songs from
other albums, this is a diverse assortment - from the longingly
romantic to the ragingly politically charged.

One of the latter is Four Women, a song describing the
African-American woman's experience of the racist, patriarchal
society. And I imagine demands for my head will come, but I have
to note that the lyricism of Four Women is a bit on the bad side.
I don't know if it's intentional, but there are some anticlimactic,
almost lines that deflates it (at least in this rendition).

But I do hear the intent, and that more than enough
covers over any and all lyrical shortcomings. Apparently there
was a number of people and major radio stations that didn't
get it and thus banned it for being racist - and while I can
see how a casual non-listening to it can give that impression,
I highly doubt the ones who were offended listened to the song
more than superficially.

It also gives a whole new context to the traditional ballad
Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair - I wonder how many
of the listeners who for the first time pictured a lover to
not just have black hair, but in fact be black.